PIP face to face assessments query

I’ve seen this on a few sites and wondered if anyone knew if there was any truth in it? My 16 year old son is on the autistic spectrum and I have requested a home visit if possible for the assessment as the likelihood of getting him to attend an assessment centre is very slim! I struggle to get him to go somewhere familiar never mind somewhere new and it takes weeks to get him somewhere that he knows. He’s already getting anxious about it and I only sent the form off 2 weeks ago.

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Thank you Gordon.

I am in two minds to push for a home visit as they will be able to see at a glance if he turns up how difficult it is for him but it would cause him so much unnecessary anxiety and upset plus the weeks running up to the assessment will be stressful enough without this on top! He really stuggles with new people etc and things out of the norm.

I think I best make an appointment with our GP. Thanks again.

I was automatically offered a home assessment without asking by Capita in Cardiff - I have ME/CFS. I didn't want a home assessment as my daughter would be distressed with strangers in the house so I asked to be assessed at a centre and was.

Just an update.

I phoned ATOS on Monday to ask for an update and they advised that my son's case did not need a face to face assessment and they had done a paper based assessment instead using the information I had sent to them. They have returned his application a week ago to the DWP and now I need to wait for them to get in touch with the outcome.

I didn't send a GP note I just made mention on his form that he would struggle with a f2f meeting because of his ASD and that I would appreciate as much time as possible to prepare him due to his anxiety.

I am not sure whether them completing a paper based assessment is a good or bad thing! It is good in one way as it will alleviate his anxiety - I had warned him it would be likely that he would need to meet someone. It's caused no end of sleepless nights for him but I needed him to know in advance so he would hopefully settle with the idea in time for the assessment. I am wondering if it is a bad thing as they haven't met him so can they assess properly without this?

I'll soon find out I'm sure